Nydia crossed her arms and shouted; her voice shrills with teenage indignation.
“If you trick my grandma again, Mia, I swear I’ll call the cops!”
The old woman’s eyes widened. Her cane shot up faster than expected for her age.
“How dare you!” she barked, aiming it squarely at her granddaughter’s backside.
Nydia ducked. “Grandma! I’m your actual granddaughter! Why are you defending a con artist?”
The old woman pointed her cane like a sword.
“What con artist? Mia didn’t even take a penny from me!”
Nydia froze, clearly expecting the opposite. Her voice softened, but only slightly.
“She didn’t... take anything?”
“Exactly! Now apologize!”
“I won’t!” Nydia’s pride was ironclad. Mia was someone her idol hated, and she wasn’t about to grovel to her.
I folded my arms, growing annoyed. Se
